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There is no legal option for Cyprus to veto Turkeys accession course to
the EU, Foreign Minister, Markos Kyprianoy has explained, as the Union
is set to evaluate Ankaras negotiation process in December. The
Minister said the government has other options in this regard, such as
to object to the opening of some or all the chapters in Turkeys
accession negotiations or to adopt unanimously with the rest of the EU
members a decision to terminate Ankaras accession course.

In new remarks on the matter here today, Kyprianou stressed that his
statements on Friday regarding Turkeys accession course were
misinterpreted. He underlined that he did not refer to any decision by
the Cyprus government but to the options we will have legally and
objectively before us, in case Turkey does not comply with its EU
obligations by December, when the EU will assess its progress. The
government, he explained, is preparing for all the scenarios and keeps
all the options open, without precluding anything. These options are
either a joint decision by the 27 or the possibility for Cyprus to
prevent alone or with other countries the opening of some or even all
the negotiating chapters in Turkeys accession course. He said also that
if Turkey does not comply with its obligations, there will be
repercussions.

We shall decide what these repercussions will be, at the right moment,
he added. The decision to start accession negotiations with Turkey
taken a few years ago and it stipulates that this course continues
unless a unanimous decision to stop it is taken, he added.